Management Not Negotiating In Good Faith
03-05-2020, 02:43 PM
#1
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Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jan 2019
Position: A320 CA
Posts: 80
Management Not Negotiating In Good Faith
March 5 APA Update:
Adding to the disrespect, Mr. Parker disclosed during a Crew News a few weeks ago that he envisioned a pilot contract that was just “marginally better” than our competitors’. And last week, during yet another Crew News, Mr. Parker doubled down on the managing of pilot expectations by affirming his commitment to offer a pilot contract that was only “slightly better” than our competitors’.
Mr. Parker went on to affirm that Delta pilots have “higher quality of life.” Yet his negotiators have not formally responded to any Section 15 proposals. While Delta certainty has higher pilot costs than American, Delta’s management team has recognized that incentivizing and empowering pilots is a revenue builder that has produced industry-leading margins and operational performance.
In last week’s News Digest, APA reported that management has offered only three days of negotiations in the month of March. This demonstrates an ongoing lack of urgency on management’s part and clearly telegraphs that they believe the current contract will be enough to address the revenue-rich and busy summer travel season.
In closing his latest Crew News, Mr. Parker firmly stated that “we can’t violate this” when referring to his “bucket” cap on improving your “quality-of-work-life issues” and “LTD.” We wish management was as dedicated to not violating your current contract.
Clearly, management is counting on APA pilots to accept the Company’s sloth-like pace to solving American’s lagging revenue and operational performance, instead focusing on one side of the equation – pilot costs versus pilot operational leadership. In fact, within management’s very own presentation during the inaugural “Annual Leadership Conference” in 2016, when they first pitched the “Leap of Faith” culture change story, they displayed a slide titled “Old School Playbook.” Within that slide. management chided the myopic tactic of viewing “Employees = CASM” (Cost per Available Seat Mile).
During our ongoing negotiations, management is clearly following the “old-school playbook” again, despite their stated desire to shift to a new paradigm years ago. From the slow pace, to the lack of interest, to recent efforts to directly negotiate with our pilots rather than YOUR Negotiating Committee, it’s nothing but predictable and dysfunctional old-school tactics.
Last July, your Negotiating Committee met with the National Mediation Board (NMB), and a follow-on meeting had been planned for several months. To ensure our perspective of ongoing negotiations is relayed first-person, your Negotiating Committee met with the NMB again this week. You can expect to receive a more detailed update from the committee regarding this meeting.
Long ago, Mr. Parker responded to a contract complaint inquiry by stating, “You get what you negotiate.” Well, Mr. Parker, it’s impossible to negotiate when your managers at the table refuse to participate.
“It is my fervent hope that an agreement can be reached sooner rather than later, but Mr. Parker’s track record with negotiations tells me otherwise. It will be up to each and every one of us to hold this management team accountable. It’s time.”
— APA Negotiating Committee Chair CA John Karam, Dec. 31, 2019
“While there’s still time remaining, it’s far from infinite — and neither is our patience.”
— APA President CA Eric Ferguson, Jan. 2, 2020
It’s Time.
APA Communications Committee
A Tale of Two “Betters” – From “Marginally” to “Slightly”
In the last two editions of the APA News Digest and other communications, we have detailed management’s actions, or lack of actions, that lead to these conclusions:- Management is slow rolling negotiations.
- Management is exhibiting a lack of urgency, unlike they did during merger negotiations.
- Management refuses to provide formal counterproposals to APA regarding scheduling issues.
- Management clings to its view that pilots are a cost rather than a solution to multiple problems: American’s lagging operational and revenue performance as well our industry-trailing work/life-balance issues.
- Management, early in negotiations, affirmed that they are pleased with the current pilot contract (many provisions of which remain unimplemented).
- Management continues to use negotiating tactics of a bygone bankruptcy era.
- Management continues to promote its offer from August, which makes it clear they viewed it as an LBFO (Last Best Final Offer) limited by their $150 million “bucket.”
Adding to the disrespect, Mr. Parker disclosed during a Crew News a few weeks ago that he envisioned a pilot contract that was just “marginally better” than our competitors’. And last week, during yet another Crew News, Mr. Parker doubled down on the managing of pilot expectations by affirming his commitment to offer a pilot contract that was only “slightly better” than our competitors’.
Mr. Parker went on to affirm that Delta pilots have “higher quality of life.” Yet his negotiators have not formally responded to any Section 15 proposals. While Delta certainty has higher pilot costs than American, Delta’s management team has recognized that incentivizing and empowering pilots is a revenue builder that has produced industry-leading margins and operational performance.
In last week’s News Digest, APA reported that management has offered only three days of negotiations in the month of March. This demonstrates an ongoing lack of urgency on management’s part and clearly telegraphs that they believe the current contract will be enough to address the revenue-rich and busy summer travel season.
In closing his latest Crew News, Mr. Parker firmly stated that “we can’t violate this” when referring to his “bucket” cap on improving your “quality-of-work-life issues” and “LTD.” We wish management was as dedicated to not violating your current contract.
Clearly, management is counting on APA pilots to accept the Company’s sloth-like pace to solving American’s lagging revenue and operational performance, instead focusing on one side of the equation – pilot costs versus pilot operational leadership. In fact, within management’s very own presentation during the inaugural “Annual Leadership Conference” in 2016, when they first pitched the “Leap of Faith” culture change story, they displayed a slide titled “Old School Playbook.” Within that slide. management chided the myopic tactic of viewing “Employees = CASM” (Cost per Available Seat Mile).
During our ongoing negotiations, management is clearly following the “old-school playbook” again, despite their stated desire to shift to a new paradigm years ago. From the slow pace, to the lack of interest, to recent efforts to directly negotiate with our pilots rather than YOUR Negotiating Committee, it’s nothing but predictable and dysfunctional old-school tactics.
Last July, your Negotiating Committee met with the National Mediation Board (NMB), and a follow-on meeting had been planned for several months. To ensure our perspective of ongoing negotiations is relayed first-person, your Negotiating Committee met with the NMB again this week. You can expect to receive a more detailed update from the committee regarding this meeting.
Long ago, Mr. Parker responded to a contract complaint inquiry by stating, “You get what you negotiate.” Well, Mr. Parker, it’s impossible to negotiate when your managers at the table refuse to participate.
“It is my fervent hope that an agreement can be reached sooner rather than later, but Mr. Parker’s track record with negotiations tells me otherwise. It will be up to each and every one of us to hold this management team accountable. It’s time.”
— APA Negotiating Committee Chair CA John Karam, Dec. 31, 2019
“While there’s still time remaining, it’s far from infinite — and neither is our patience.”
— APA President CA Eric Ferguson, Jan. 2, 2020
It’s Time.
APA Communications Committee
03-07-2020, 02:09 AM
#3
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2019
Posts: 179
March 5 APA Update:
Adding to the disrespect, Mr. Parker disclosed during a Crew News a few weeks ago that he envisioned a pilot contract that was just “marginally better” than our competitors’. And last week, during yet another Crew News, Mr. Parker doubled down on the managing of pilot expectations by affirming his commitment to offer a pilot contract that was only “slightly better” than our competitors’.
Mr. Parker went on to affirm that Delta pilots have “higher quality of life.” Yet his negotiators have not formally responded to any Section 15 proposals. While Delta certainty has higher pilot costs than American, Delta’s management team has recognized that incentivizing and empowering pilots is a revenue builder that has produced industry-leading margins and operational performance.
In last week’s News Digest, APA reported that management has offered only three days of negotiations in the month of March. This demonstrates an ongoing lack of urgency on management’s part and clearly telegraphs that they believe the current contract will be enough to address the revenue-rich and busy summer travel season.
In closing his latest Crew News, Mr. Parker firmly stated that “we can’t violate this” when referring to his “bucket” cap on improving your “quality-of-work-life issues” and “LTD.” We wish management was as dedicated to not violating your current contract.
Clearly, management is counting on APA pilots to accept the Company’s sloth-like pace to solving American’s lagging revenue and operational performance, instead focusing on one side of the equation – pilot costs versus pilot operational leadership. In fact, within management’s very own presentation during the inaugural “Annual Leadership Conference” in 2016, when they first pitched the “Leap of Faith” culture change story, they displayed a slide titled “Old School Playbook.” Within that slide. management chided the myopic tactic of viewing “Employees = CASM” (Cost per Available Seat Mile).
During our ongoing negotiations, management is clearly following the “old-school playbook” again, despite their stated desire to shift to a new paradigm years ago. From the slow pace, to the lack of interest, to recent efforts to directly negotiate with our pilots rather than YOUR Negotiating Committee, it’s nothing but predictable and dysfunctional old-school tactics.
Last July, your Negotiating Committee met with the National Mediation Board (NMB), and a follow-on meeting had been planned for several months. To ensure our perspective of ongoing negotiations is relayed first-person, your Negotiating Committee met with the NMB again this week. You can expect to receive a more detailed update from the committee regarding this meeting.
Long ago, Mr. Parker responded to a contract complaint inquiry by stating, “You get what you negotiate.” Well, Mr. Parker, it’s impossible to negotiate when your managers at the table refuse to participate.
“It is my fervent hope that an agreement can be reached sooner rather than later, but Mr. Parker’s track record with negotiations tells me otherwise. It will be up to each and every one of us to hold this management team accountable. It’s time.”
— APA Negotiating Committee Chair CA John Karam, Dec. 31, 2019
“While there’s still time remaining, it’s far from infinite — and neither is our patience.”
— APA President CA Eric Ferguson, Jan. 2, 2020
It’s Time.
APA Communications Committee
A Tale of Two “Betters” – From “Marginally” to “Slightly”
In the last two editions of the APA News Digest and other communications, we have detailed management’s actions, or lack of actions, that lead to these conclusions:- Management is slow rolling negotiations.
- Management is exhibiting a lack of urgency, unlike they did during merger negotiations.
- Management refuses to provide formal counterproposals to APA regarding scheduling issues.
- Management clings to its view that pilots are a cost rather than a solution to multiple problems: American’s lagging operational and revenue performance as well our industry-trailing work/life-balance issues.
- Management, early in negotiations, affirmed that they are pleased with the current pilot contract (many provisions of which remain unimplemented).
- Management continues to use negotiating tactics of a bygone bankruptcy era.
- Management continues to promote its offer from August, which makes it clear they viewed it as an LBFO (Last Best Final Offer) limited by their $150 million “bucket.”
Adding to the disrespect, Mr. Parker disclosed during a Crew News a few weeks ago that he envisioned a pilot contract that was just “marginally better” than our competitors’. And last week, during yet another Crew News, Mr. Parker doubled down on the managing of pilot expectations by affirming his commitment to offer a pilot contract that was only “slightly better” than our competitors’.
Mr. Parker went on to affirm that Delta pilots have “higher quality of life.” Yet his negotiators have not formally responded to any Section 15 proposals. While Delta certainty has higher pilot costs than American, Delta’s management team has recognized that incentivizing and empowering pilots is a revenue builder that has produced industry-leading margins and operational performance.
In last week’s News Digest, APA reported that management has offered only three days of negotiations in the month of March. This demonstrates an ongoing lack of urgency on management’s part and clearly telegraphs that they believe the current contract will be enough to address the revenue-rich and busy summer travel season.
In closing his latest Crew News, Mr. Parker firmly stated that “we can’t violate this” when referring to his “bucket” cap on improving your “quality-of-work-life issues” and “LTD.” We wish management was as dedicated to not violating your current contract.
Clearly, management is counting on APA pilots to accept the Company’s sloth-like pace to solving American’s lagging revenue and operational performance, instead focusing on one side of the equation – pilot costs versus pilot operational leadership. In fact, within management’s very own presentation during the inaugural “Annual Leadership Conference” in 2016, when they first pitched the “Leap of Faith” culture change story, they displayed a slide titled “Old School Playbook.” Within that slide. management chided the myopic tactic of viewing “Employees = CASM” (Cost per Available Seat Mile).
During our ongoing negotiations, management is clearly following the “old-school playbook” again, despite their stated desire to shift to a new paradigm years ago. From the slow pace, to the lack of interest, to recent efforts to directly negotiate with our pilots rather than YOUR Negotiating Committee, it’s nothing but predictable and dysfunctional old-school tactics.
Last July, your Negotiating Committee met with the National Mediation Board (NMB), and a follow-on meeting had been planned for several months. To ensure our perspective of ongoing negotiations is relayed first-person, your Negotiating Committee met with the NMB again this week. You can expect to receive a more detailed update from the committee regarding this meeting.
Long ago, Mr. Parker responded to a contract complaint inquiry by stating, “You get what you negotiate.” Well, Mr. Parker, it’s impossible to negotiate when your managers at the table refuse to participate.
“It is my fervent hope that an agreement can be reached sooner rather than later, but Mr. Parker’s track record with negotiations tells me otherwise. It will be up to each and every one of us to hold this management team accountable. It’s time.”
— APA Negotiating Committee Chair CA John Karam, Dec. 31, 2019
“While there’s still time remaining, it’s far from infinite — and neither is our patience.”
— APA President CA Eric Ferguson, Jan. 2, 2020
It’s Time.
APA Communications Committee
03-12-2020, 12:56 PM
#4
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2011
Posts: 227
Given union rejected the August offer, what is the current union proposal looking like? I know the union was talking about trading away rates for profit sharing - is that still a big push?
Does this mean a strike is coming soon? “While there’s still time remaining, it’s far from infinite — and neither is our patience.” — APA President CA Eric Ferguson
Does this mean a strike is coming soon? “While there’s still time remaining, it’s far from infinite — and neither is our patience.” — APA President CA Eric Ferguson
03-13-2020, 02:46 PM
#6
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2011
Posts: 227
Last time around the airline wanted to do more profit sharing, union wanted rates and gave up profit sharing for them.
Until recently that was considered a bad idea, so focus was on getting / keeping profit sharing. The current profit sharing was not part of original contract.
Until recently that was considered a bad idea, so focus was on getting / keeping profit sharing. The current profit sharing was not part of original contract.
03-15-2020, 03:12 AM
#7
On Reserve
Joined APC: May 2019
Posts: 18
Last time around the airline wanted to do more profit sharing, union wanted rates and gave up profit sharing for them.
Until recently that was considered a bad idea, so focus was on getting / keeping profit sharing. The current profit sharing was not part of original contract.
Until recently that was considered a bad idea, so focus was on getting / keeping profit sharing. The current profit sharing was not part of original contract.
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